Review: Killer Frost

KILLER FROST
Mythos Academy #6
Jennifer Estep
Paranormal Young Adult
384 pages
Kensington Teen
Available Now
Source: ARC from author for review

THE STORY (from Goodreads)
I’ve battled the Reapers of Chaos before–and survived. But this time I have a Bad, Bad Feeling it’s going to be a fight to the death … most likely mine.

Yeah, I’ve got my psychometry magic, my talking sword, Vic–and even the most dangerous Spartan on campus at my side, in Logan freaking Quinn, but I’m no match for Loki, the evil Norse god of chaos. I may be Nike’s Champion, but at heart, I’m still just Gwen Frost, that weird Gypsy girl everyone at school loves to gossip about.

Then someone I love is put in more danger than ever before, and something inside me snaps. This time, Loki and his Reapers are going down for good … or I am.

MY THOUGHTS
Killer Frost is a story we enter into with both excitement and sadness, adrenaline pumping from the beginning in expectation of the battle with Loki we know is coming, but at the same time our hearts beat heavily in our chests with the understanding that each page turned brings us one step closer to saying goodbye to these characters. Ms. Estep is someone we know isn’t afraid of death in her books–the uncomfortable possibility that not everyone will make it to the bitter end a constant companion throughout–but though we’re a swirling mass of nerves from page one to three hundred, Ms. Estep never fails to entertain and thoroughly satisfy.

Gwen has been a joy to follow through this series, growing with each installment into a young women of unwavering loyalty and determination who, along with her friends, is first into a fight in defense of those she cares about. For much of the first half of this book, Gwen is a touch more isolated than she has been previously, the weight of all that’s expected of her bearing down on her young shoulders and causing her to turn inward rather than reach out for support. Though such an action may sound like it would be frustrating, given all that’s happened to her and all she’s facing it’s a more than understandable response, and we simply can’t imagine we would do anything other than the same were we in her shoes. Before Gwen’s self-imposed emotional isolation can drag on too long and tip the scales in favor of the aforementioned frustration however, her friends rise up in the way best friends do and force their way through the shields she’d snapped into place.

While all the previous installments had a strong emotional element to them, whether it was the extremely tense romance between Gwen and Logan, Gwen’s memories of her late mother, or the sometimes rocky relationship she had with the students of Mythos, this final book eases up on the emotional connection between reader and characters in favor of focusing on the final showdown with Loki. Though not a big enough flaw to influence our overall reaction to Killer Frost, we can’t help but miss the tug on our heartstrings that’s accompanied every book before it, wishing for just the tiniest bit more from that aspect of the story.

Where Ms. Estep truly shines in this last book though is in the crafting of the battle scenes, creating heart pounding action at every turn without ever losing us as readers in the clash of swords or the swing of fists. The battle with Loki is appropriately epic and hard-fought for the amount of build-up from book one, giving us dark moments and breathless moments, but beautifully weaving threads of hope through them all to make sure we keep fighting with Gwen and company every step of the way. Overall, Killer Frost is a thrilling conclusion to the Mythos Academy series, and I can’t wait to see what new world and set of characters Ms. Estep has in store for us next.

Rating: 4/5
 

Find Jennifer:

Website • Facebook • Twitter • Goodreads • Amazon

This book was sent to me by the author  free of charge for the purpose of a review. 

I received no other compensation and the above is my honest opinion.

Waiting on Wednesday: Novella Boyfriend Edition

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Breaking The Spine and is a fun way to see what books other bloggers just can't wait to get their hands on!

Typically I choose just one book to focus on each week, but there are so many novellas coming out in the near future that feature some of my very favorite book boys that I couldn't possibly choose between them. I love them all equally you see, and I wouldn't want any of them to feel left out. I know how they all crave my undying affection ;-)

Novellas aren't always my thing–their brevity preventing me from getting to know the characters as well as I want to–but ones written in the POV of beloved characters from already existing series (whose POVs we don't get in the full length books) are a completely different story. Bring them on.

UNDONE

Unraveling #1.5

Elizabeth Norris

Young Adult SciFi

Available Now

HarperTeen Impulse

THE STORY (from Goodreads)
Before the accident. Before their universes collided. Before they fell in love.

Riveting and romantic, Undone: An Unraveling Novella contains three short stories set in the world of Unraveling, the first book in the gripping sci-fi duology by Elizabeth Norris.

Before Ben Michaels saved Janelle Tenner’s life, Janelle saved Ben when he stumbled through an interuniverse portal into a completely new world. That day, he fell in love with the girl of his dreams. And he never forgot her.

Through three stories told from Ben’s point of view, learn how Ben and his friends discovered their ability to travel between worlds, how Ben first met Janelle, and how he pined for her for years before he actually got the chance to meet her, save her life, and capture her heart. And find out what happens to Ben between the cliff-hanger conclusion to Unraveling and the beginning of its heart-stopping sequel, Unbreakable.

This one is already out, so technically no waiting involved. WIN! I fell madly in love with Ben last year in Unraveling, so any extra time I get to spend with him is a good thing.

SPARTAN FROST

Mythos Academy #4.5

Jennifer Estep

Paranormal Young Adult

June 25th

Kensington Teen

*Warning: blurb contains spoilers from book 4, Crimson Frost

THE STORY (from Goodreads)
I’m Logan Quinn, the deadliest Spartan warrior at Mythos Academy. At least I was — until the day I almost killed Gwen Frost.

Professor Metis and Nickamedes say that I’m fine, that Loki and the Reapers don’t have a hold on me anymore, but I can’t risk it. I can’t risk hurting Gwen again. So I’m leaving Mythos and going somewhere far, far away.

I know Gwen wonders what’s happening to me, whether I’m safe. I can’t tell her, but this is my story …

Logan. Quinn. I want in his head. That is all.

 

DIE FOR HER

Revenants #2.5

Amy Plum

Paranormal Young Adult

April 2nd

HarperTeen Impulse

THE STORY (from Goodreads)
Set in the romantic and death-defying world of the international bestselling Die for Me trilogy, this digital original novella follows Jules, a brooding, immortal French artist who has fallen in love with his best friend’s girlfriend.

Jules Marchenoir is a revenant-an undead being whose fate forces him to sacrifice himself over and over again to save human lives. He’s spent the better part of the last century flirting his way through Paris, but when he met Kate Mercier, the heroine from Amy Plum’s Die for Me trilogy, he knew his afterlife had changed forever and he had found the love of his life. Until Kate fell for his best friend, Vincent. Now Jules is faced with an impossible decision: choosing between his loyal friend and a love truly worth dying for.

Jules is one of my favorite characters from this series, and I always got the sense that he loves Kate, though he covers it up with jokes and witty remarks. I'm definitely looking forward to him being center stage in this novella!

IMM #35

In My Mailbox was created by Kristi over at The Story Siren and is a great way to see what other bloggers are reading and reviewing. I always love seeing what everyone else got for their week!


FOR REVIEW:
Kiss of Frost by Jennifer Estep
Hades by Alexandra Adornetto
Remembrance by Michelle Madow
Torrent by Lisa T. Bergren

BOUGHT:
Cascade by Lisa T. Bergren

WON:
Hourglass by Myra McEntire

A huge thank you this week goes out to Jennifer Estep, Feiwel & Friends, Michelle Madow, Lisa T. Bergren, and Heather from Buried in Books for surprising me with so many fabulous books when I came home from vacation yesterday!

Guest Post + Giveaway: Jennifer Estep and Touch of Frost

Today I have the pleasure of welcoming author Jennifer Estep back to the blog to talk a little bit about mythology and her new young adult novel Touch of Frost which releases tomorrow (yay!) so be sure and add it to your list. This is the first book in her Mythos Academy series and is just an all-around entertaining read (check out my review HERE). I adore Jennifer's books, so I hope you all pick this one up if you've yet to read anything by her!

Greetings and salutations! First of all, I want to say thanks to Jenny for having me on the blog today. Thanks so much, Jenny!

My name is Jennifer Estep, and I write the Mythos Academy young adult urban fantasy series for Kensington. The books focus on Gwen Frost, a 17-year-old Gypsy girl who has the gift of psychometry, or the ability to know an object’s history just by touching it. After a serious freak-out with her magic, Gwen is shipped off to Mythos Academy, a school for the descendants of ancient warriors like Spartans, Valkyries, Amazons, and more.

Touch of Frost, the first book in the series, comes out tomorrow, July 26.
First Frost, a prequel e-story to the series, is available now. The second book,
Kiss of Frost, will hit shelves on Nov. 29.

So today, Jenny asked me to talk a little bit about my favorite myth. There are tons of interesting myths out there from all the different cultures of the world. It’s really hard to pick just one, but I’ve always liked the myth of Psyche and Eros (aka Cupid).

There are a lot of different variations, but basically, the myth goes a little something like this: Aphrodite, the Greek goddess of love, is jealous of the human Psyche’s beauty, so she asks her son Eros to shoot Psyche with one of his magic arrows so Psyche will fall in love with an ugly man (or even a monster). However, Eros ends up falling in love with Psyche instead and marries her. But Psyche doesn’t know exactly who her husband is, and despite warnings not to, she eventually uncovers his true identity. Eros leaves Psyche, and she begins to search far and wide for him.

Psyche eventually goes to Aphrodite, who gives her a series of impossible tasks to complete (are there any other kind of tasks in mythology?). But with the help of various creatures and others, Psyche performs the tasks. Eros forgives her, the two are reunited, and Psyche becomes a goddess herself.

Why do I like this myth so much? For one thing, it’s one of the myths that actually has a happy ending. In so many of the myths, humans are killed, turned into animals, or worse by the gods because of the humans’ pride or the gods’ jealous, vengeful natures – like when Athena, the Greek goddess of wisdom, turns the human Arachne into a spider because Arachne boasted that she could weave better than Athena herself. But in this myth, Psyche and Eros end up together, despite all the obstacles that Psyche has to overcome.

But the thing I like most about this myth is that it has an almost fairy tale quality to it, especially with the elements like the mysterious husband, the impossible tasks, and the various helpers who aid Psyche. I like fairy tales just as much as I do mythology, so this story is a nice mix of the two. Also, I just like the idea that true love conquers all – even when it comes to the gods.

What about you guys? What are some of your favorite myths or fairy tales?

Jennifer Estep is a USA Today bestselling author who also writes the Elemental Assassin urban fantasy series for Pocket Books. The books focus on Gin Blanco, an assassin codenamed the Spider who can control the elements of Ice and Stone. When she’s not busy killing people and righting wrongs, Gin runs a barbecue restaurant called the Pork Pit in the fictional Southern metropolis of Ashland. The city is also home to giants, dwarves, vampires, and elementals – Air, Fire, Ice, and Stone.

Books in the series are Spider’s Bite, Web of Lies, Venom, and Tangled Threads. Spider’s Revenge, the fifth book, will be released on Sept. 27. Visit www.jenniferestep.com for free short stories, excerpts, and more.

Thanks so much for taking the time to come back on the blog Jennifer! I honestly cannot say enough positive things about Jennifer or her books, she's just one of those authors who makes me happy. She has all sorts of fun extras on her website (listed above) so be sure and check it out if you want to get a feel for her characters and her style.

GIVEAWAY

Jennifer has generously offered up a copy of Touch of Frost to give away to one lucky winner on the blog! To enter, please leave a comment answering Jennifer's question above along with a valid email address so I can contact you if you win. This giveaway is open to US residents only and will run through midnight EST on Friday, July 29th after which time a winner will be chosen and announced on the blog. Good luck everyone!